Elisabeth Svendsen Trust

Each week around 150 children from local schools benefit from visiting each of our centres. The children's needs vary greatly; some have learning difficulties, others are physically disadvantaged or have behavioural problems, mobility problems or sensory impairment. Donkey-riding therapy improves their confidence and self-esteem, and can also help improve their balance, strength, co-ordination and mobility. All our rides are given under qualified supervision and are adapted to suit the needs of the individual children.

Here at the Elisabeth Svendsen Trust for Children and Donkeys (EST) we provide donkey riding therapy to children with special educational needs and disabilities.

All of the work carried out by EST is free of charge and we really need to raise funds to enable us to care for Boomer and his friends who help so many children and adults. Just £8.00 will pay for a head collar and lead rope or £15.00 would pay for the care of one donkey for a week.

Learning new skills

EST Manchester has been open now for just over 3 years and in that time has welcomed many visitors, including children, schools and members of the public, to the Centre. Staff have carried out thousands of riding therapy sessions for children with special educational needs and disabilities, benefiting their lives immensely.

EST Leeds recently made an appeal for kind hearted locals to bring logs and branches for the 17 donkey residents to chew on! You can see the full story on the Yorkshire Evening Post website.

Here at EST we welcome many children with autism who attend for riding therapy with their school friends or families. Of course, we are open to children with special educational needs and disabilities other than autism but I thought I'd tell you about one special little boy who attends our Leeds Centre with his school.